Have you ever thought about creating your very own blog? Well, you can start right now! If you are a Leeds Ave School student, I have reserved a page for you at kidblog.org . Just stop by the library and we’ll set up your blog together. Starting a blog is kind of like having an online journal. It’s a place for you to post your thoughts, ideas, feelings, questions- just about anything you’d like to share with your readers. Remember, youwill be writing for an audience, so always proofread and check for meaning before hitting the publish button. C’mon, student bloggers…represent!
All of this glorious snow makes me think of a favorite poem by Shel Silverstein
Snowball by Shel Silverstein I made myself a snow ball as perfect as could be.
I thought I’d keep it as a pet and let it sleep with me.
I made it some pajamas and a pillow for it’s head.
Then, last night it ran away.
But first — it wet the bed.
For more of Shel Silverstein’s poetry, fun, & games,
OK, no more excuses. It’s been much too long since my last post, and I realize there will never be enough time to get through all that needs to be done, so a little juggling of priorities is in order. Between what’s new in the library and what’s been on my mind, there is much to share with you.
First, what’s new in our library: BOOKS! BOOKS! and more BOOKS! I just finished barcoding and labeling over 150 new titles. Here’s a peek:
This is just a small sampling of the many wonderful new titles, so come in to the library and pick up a few good books!
As many of you have noticed, we now have a Smartboard installed in the library, and this past week we started integrating its use in library lessons. First Graders did an outstanding job of using a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast two stories by Jan Brett, The Hat and The Mitten. Next week, Kindergarten and First Grade lessons will incorporate use of the Smartboard as we visit story sites online.
Mr. Laster and I have been trying to come up with ways to give the upper grade learners more time on the computers so they can improve their information literacy skills. We tried changing around the schedule, but many learners and teachers were unhappy with that change, and Mr. Laster and I agreed it wasn’t all we hoped it would be. We’ve returned to our original schedule of alternating weeks for library and computer lab, but we’ve begun to collaborate on projects which will allow the upper grade learners to work in depth and on consecutive weeks as they explore research strategies, note taking, information assessment, application,and presentation options. We invite all teachers to join us in collaborative efforts to provide meaningful, real world learning opportunities as we introduce 21st century skills to our students.
I just found out about this program through my PLN (Personal Learning Network), while catching up on Twitter:
“In its third year, the Holiday Mail for Heroes program is an opportunity to share joy and thanks with our service members throughout the holiday season by way of a greeting card.”
Please don’t forget to follow these guidelines while preparing your holiday greetings!
Do…
Sign all cards
Entitle cards “Dear Service Member, Family or Veteran”
Limit cards to 15 per person or 50 for school class or business group
Bundle groups of cards in single, large envelopes (there is no need to include individual envelopes and postage for cards)
Don’t…
Send letters
Include personal information such as home or email addresses
Use glitter – excessive amounts can aggravate health issues of wounded recipients
Include inserts of any kind as they must be removed in the screening process
I’ll be sending this information to all of our classroom teachers, so you might be making cards in class, but you can still make some at home. Maybe your parents, brothers, and sisters, would all like to help, too. If you cannot send the cards out, bring them to the library and I’ll send them for you. Click here to get more information on this wonderful program.
Veteran’s Day is the perfect time to learn more about those who served in our military. Visit the Veteran’s Affairs site for information, games, and activities.
Wow! It’s been way too long since my last post- which confirms what I already know: I’ve got too much to do, and not nearly enough time. The library has been unbelievably busy this year. Our circulation is way up over last year, and last year was terrific, which means this year is through the roof! While this puts a huge smile on my face, it also means I’m drowning in a sea of books waiting to be reshelved. It seems as if I’ll never catch up. As soon as I begin to make a dent in the mountains of books on the circulation desk, the book drop fills up with more returns. It’s a wonderful problem, but a problem nevertheless. A special thank you goes out to Ms. Gilmore and Ms. Bove, who graciously give up their time to help with reshelving whenever they can. It’s time for me to start preparing for our Fall Book Fair, coming up during Parent-Teacher Conferences. Posters will be up soon, to let everyone know the fair is almost here. Notices will go home to families, and parents will be invited to stop in during conference time. I love setting up the displays ( reminds me of my days in retailing many years ago…) and giving the place a “bookstore” feel. I don’t love lifting the extremely heavy cartons of books- Ugh!
Have you seen Where The Wild Things Are yet? If not, what are you waiting for? While not everyone will agree, I loved it. We get a grown-up perspective on what it’s like to be a kid, with all of the confusing feelings and drama that are a part of childhood. I saw myself in Max, and in the Wild Things as well. It’s also a very beautiful movie visually- the world in which the Wild Things reside is true to Maurice Sendak’s stunning artwork, and feels completely real. Run, don’t walk to the nearest theater and visit Max’s world of wonder.
One of my favorite picture books, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, is the inspiration for a 3D feature film of the same name now playing at a theater near you. In the film, a well meaning scientist tries to solve the problem of world hunger, but things go terribly wrong. Check out the web site, where you can watch videos, read about the characters, and play online games.
Almost every kid I know remembers the classic and much-beloved Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. The tale of Max’s adventure on an island inhabited by strange creatures opens on October 16th. Visit here to watch trailers and view the gallery.
Last but certainly not least, Nov. 13th is opening day for Fantastic Mr. Fox, based on the book by Roald Dahl, who also authored Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, and James And The Giant Peach. The tale follows Mr. Fox, family man, who gives in to his animal instincts and becomes a chicken thief, setting in motion a series of events that endanger his family as well as the entire animal community.
This Thursday, we will begin a new school year here in Pleasantville. I look forward to seeing those of you who are “old timers”, and meeting those students who are entering Leeds Ave for the very first time. We are planning many new and exciting activities and programs for the library. There are hundreds of new books for you to browse, including the latest graphic novels, lots of fiction, non-fiction, and biographies of your favorite performers. Stop in and say hello- you are always welcome in the library!
Ameena, one of the stars of our summer reading program commercial, has made it into the local paper! She and her sister Amira attended the poetry contest at the Pleasantville library. Click here to be taken to The Current, and turn to the second page. Here is Ameena’s winning poem: Ameena W., 10, of Pleasantville
I love the beach,
I play music and like to dance,
At night, I like to sit under the moonlight,
while dinosaurs walk the land.
*******************************************
You go, girl!
By the way, you can see Ameena and her co-stars Adam and Bella every day at the start and the end of the P’Ville School District Board Meetings, which are shown daily at 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on local channel 2. It’s a performance you won’t want to miss!
On another happy note, two of our monarch butterflies have emerged from their chrysalides. They’re both healthy and beautiful. My son Elijah snapped these photos of one of them:
——————————————————————————————————————————————
Can you tell if it’s a male or female? (Hint: Look closely at the wings)
Lastly, while we’re speaking about “Star Sightings”, take a look at the newest members of our family:
Meet Fernando on the left, and Sophia on the right. We are now the proud parents of two beautiful baby parakeets! I know this will be another wonderful animal adventure for our family, which now consists of mom, three kids, two dogs, one ball python, and two parakeets.
There are some things I’ve been meaning to blog about but haven’t had the time, so today’s post will be an assortment of things I want to share with you.
First, here’s a photo of the three chrysalides we have at home, thanks to Ms. Lenahan:
We hope to see three beautiful monarchs by the end of this week!
Play games which will make you smarter while you help make a difference in the world! Sharpen your vocabulary skills, practice your math facts, review grammar, geography, or foreign languages. You can even test your knowledge of famous paintings and artists! You can even make Free Rice your home page (with your parents’ permission!)
Lastly, a reminder about our Summer Reading Program… how many projects have you completed so far? We’re at the halfway point of the summer, so you should be halfway through your projects. I can’t wait to see what you’ve done and to share your creative works with Mr. Smith, your teachers, and the LAS family!
